New energy efficiency requirements in Bulgaria
The Ministry of Energy has published proposed amendments to the Energy Efficiency Act for public consultation. The goal is to transpose European Directives (EU) 2023/1791 and 2024/1275, with a primary focus on the "Energy Efficiency First" principle.
Public institutions will be required to reduce their energy consumption by 1.9% annually, and they will need to renovate at least 3% of their total floor area each year.
Key changes:
- Public sector: Institutions aim to transform their buildings into zero-emission ones.
- Business sector: Mandatory energy audits are introduced for large enterprises with consumption exceeding 10 TJ, and energy management systems for those exceeding 85 TJ.
- Construction: Newly constructed buildings must now have optimal potential for solar energy generation.
- Transport: Annual energy saving targets are regulated, with a contribution to the National Decarbonization Fund planned for the "Transport" sector.
The new rules also affect public procurement, where contracting authorities will be required to prove the implementation of energy efficiency measures and publicly disclose the impact of their contracts.